Commonwealth v. Collins

31 Mass. L. Rptr. 570
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Commonwealth v. Collins. Read the opinion of the Court — 31 Mass. L. Rptr. 437
Massachusetts Superior Court·Decided December 9, 2013·No. No. SUCR200710165·Published

Opinion

Brassard, Raymond J., J.

On June 15, 2009, a jury found the defendant Michael Collins (“Collins”) guilty of second degree murder in violation of G.L.c. 265, §2, armed assault with intent to murder in violation of G.L.c. 265, §18(b), and possession of a firearm without a license in violation of G.L.c. 269, §10(h). The matter is currently before the court on Collins’s motion for a new trial pursuant to Mass.R.Crim.P. 30(b). Collins’s motion raised a number of issues, and the court concluded that the majority of those issues could be decided on the papers. As such, this court issued a decision dated October 8, 2013, denying Collins’s motion in part [31 Mass. L. Rptr. 437). The court [571] determined, however, that Collins’s claim that the Commonwealth failed to disclose a deal with Pierre LaGuerre (“LaGuerre”) in exchange for his testimony at Collins’s trial raised a substantial issue, and ordered an evidentiary hearing for November 4, 2013. After hearing, and for the reasons stated below, Collins’s motion for a new trial is DENIED.

FINDINGS OF FACT

On the basis of the credible evidence, and inferences reasonably drawn therefrom, the court finds as follows.

On December 5, 2006, Myles Lawton was shot and killed at 91 Florida Street in Dorchester. LaGuerre was also shot. On the night of the shooting, LaGuerre told the police that “Goodie” or “Goldie” shot him. Goodie is Collins’s nickname, and LaGuerre knew Collins as Goodie at the time of the incident. On December 16, 2006, while still in the hospital, LaGuerre identified Collins from a photo array as the person who shot him. Further, on February 2, 2007, LaGuerre testified before the grand jury, and again identified Collins as the shooter.

On July 7, 2007, LaGuerre was arrested in South Boston for distributing cocaine in a school zone. A police officer observed LaGuerre sitting in a vehicle. The officer had arrested LaGuerre in the past, and three confidential informants had told the officer that LaGuerre was selling drugs. The officer saw a woman approach LaGuerre’s vehicle, and thought that he saw a drug transaction take place. The officer did not witness any drugs, money, or other items pass between LaGuerre and the woman. When officers stopped the woman, she had a bag of crack cocaine in her possession, and said that she had gotten the drugs from LaGuerre. Further, when officers stopped LaGuerre, he had fifty dollars on him, however, the police found no drugs in his possession. LaGuerre told police that he had lent the woman money in the past, and that she had just paid him back.

A criminal complaint issued from the South Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court (“BMC”) two days later on July 9, 2007, charging LaGuerre with distribution of cocaine in violation of G.L.c. 94C, §32A, and distribution of cocaine in a school zone in violation of G.L.c. 94C, §32J. In December 2008, the case was transferred to the Central Division of the BMC.

On April 28, 2009, LaGuerre’s drug case was called in the BMC. Assistant District Attorney David Fredette (“ADA Fredette”) answered on the case for the Commonwealth. ADA Fredette was the trial prosecutor for Collins’s case in the Superior Court. It was ADA Fredette’s practice to answer on cases that involved important witnesses from his pending cases in the Superior Court, particularly if the witness was a defendant in a criminal matter. Attorney Scott Curtis (“Attorney Curtis”) represented LaGuerre. LaGuerre was late for the hearing, and received a preliminary default. The transcript of the hearing indicates that LaGuerre was absent for the entirety of the hearing.

The purpose of the April 2009 hearing was to select a trial date. ADA Fredette represented to the court that, “Mr. [LaGuerre] is a witness on a murder case of mine that’s about to start in a few weeks. I, my anticipation is that this case is going to get resolved probably by a nol prosse. We’re looking for that. I’m just waiting to get approval of that from the higher ups.” R.A.1 179. He fhrther stated, “(a]nd whatever is done is going to be done via a cooperation agreement on paper. You know, the defense attorney is going to know about it.” Id. at 180. ADA Fredette indicated that he wanted LaGuerre’s trial to be scheduled after the conclusion of Collins’s trial. ADA Fredette and Attorney Curtis agreed on a trial date of June 8, 2009.

Collins’s trial began on May 18, 2009 in the Suffolk Superior Court before this judge. Before jury empanelment began, ADA Fredette told the court, and defense counsel, about LaGuerre’s pending drug case in the BMC. He stated that Attorney Curtis had been in contact with him, and was seeking to arrange a deal in exchange for LaGuerre’s testimony in Collins’s case. ADA Fredette indicated that Attorney Curtis was “asking for a dismissal because Mr. [LaGuerre] is a key witness on [Collins’s] murder case.” Tr. 1:16.

ADA Fredette then stated, “as of today, there are no promises, rewards or inducements to Mr. [LaGuerre] from Mr. Curtis. My position is regardless of what’s done on Mr. [LaGuenre’s] case, he’s going to get cross-examined on it.” Id. ADA Fredette stated, “My position is I would like—I’m asking my office to nol pros the case against Mr. [LaGuerre]. That’s my position. I don’t make that decision. The Chief of my unit is making that decision.” Id. at 17. The court asked ADA Fredette when a decision would be made, and Attorney Fredette responded, “I’m hoping it’s made today.” Id. ADA Fredette disclosed that LaGuerre’s trial was scheduled for the middle of June, which would be after LaGuerre was scheduled to testify.

ADA Fredette spoke with his supervisors concerning a deal for LaGuerre on his drug case in exchange for his testimony at Collins’s trial. Together with his supervisors, ADA Fredette decided not to offer LaG-uerre any consideration in exchange for his testimony. ADA Fredette could not recall exactly when the decision was reached.

ADA Fredette and his supervisors based their decision on the fact that Attorney Curtis had indicated that LaGuerre intended to testify against Collins regardless of whether he received consideration in the drug case. Attorney Curtis told ADA Fredette that LaGuerre wanted to testify against Collins because Collins had shot him, and because Collins had killed his friend. ADA Fredette took into consideration the fact that LaGuerre had been cooperating with police since the night of the crime, and had testified in front of the grand jury before the drug arrest. Further, ADA Fred-ette thought that LaGuerre had credibility issues, and did not want to give defense counsel another ground on which to impeach LaGuerre’s testimony.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Commonwealth v. Collins, 31 Mass. L. Rptr. 570 (Mass. Ct. App. 2013).

31 Mass. L. Rptr. 570 (Commonwealth v. Collins) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

Related

Brady v. Maryland
373 U.S. 83 (Supreme Court, 1963)
Commonwealth v. Jackson
445 N.E.2d 1033 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 1983)
Commonwealth v. Hill
739 N.E.2d 670 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2000)
Commonwealth v. Birks
762 N.E.2d 267 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2002)
Commonwealth v. Ridge
916 N.E.2d 348 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2009)
Commonwealth v. Marrero
945 N.E.2d 284 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2011)
Commonwealth v. Burgos
965 N.E.2d 854 (Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, 2012)
Commonwealth v. Rogers
686 N.E.2d 486 (Massachusetts Appeals Court, 1997)
Commonwealth v. Collins
31 Mass. L. Rptr. 437 (Massachusetts Superior Court, 2013)